The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving (LifeChange Books)

By Randy Alcorn

Book Overview

Discover how the joy of giving can make your life richer, starting today. Bestselling author Randy Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle in 2001. Now the revision to the compact, perennial bestseller includes a provocative new concluding chapter depicting God asking a believer questions about his stewardship over material resources. Jesus spent more time talking about money and possessions than about heaven and hell combined. But too often we've overlooked or misunderstood his most profound teaching on this topic, from his words in Matthew 6. Jesus offers us life-changing investment advice. He actually wants us to store up treasures for ourselves--just not here on earth. Instead, he urges us to store our treasure in heaven, where they will await us, and last forever. We can't take it with us--but we can send it on ahead Readers are moved from the realms of thoughtful Bible exposition into the highly personal arena of everyday life. Because when Jesus told His followers to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven," He intended that they discover an astounding secret: how joyful giving brings God maximum glory and His children maximum pleasure. In The Treasure Principle, you'll unearth a radical teaching of Jesus--a secret wrapped up in giving. Once you discover this secret, life will never look the same. And you won't want it to be. "Supercharged with stunning, divine truth Lightning struck over and over as I read it." - John Piper, Senior Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735290326
• ISBN13: 9780735290327
• Release Date: July 2017
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.7" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Treasures Galore

This book is perfect for Christian’s to get a Godly perspective on finances that doesn’t bash you!

A good little book.

Really liked the 31 study questions at the end of the book.

Treasure principle is encouraging

You will love the simplicity of explaining God’s princiyin finances.

Life changing book!

This book honestly changed my life and my perspective on how I handle my money. I hope it can do the same for you.

Escape the slavery of materialism!

Finally, a book that is able to encourage joyful, sacrificial grace giving without brow-beating people with a guilt-trip on tithing! Finally, a book that takes a scripturally sound approach to this important area of Christian doctrine and practice! Finally, a book that offers hope to escape the bonds of slavery to our own materialism! Pastor Randy Alcorn does a marvellous job in this small volume of unpacking truckloads of truth about how God intends His people to handle the money He entrusts to their stewardship. God intends for us to invest it, in ever increasing proportions, for the expansion of His kingdom -- not ours. God also intends for us to learn what it really means to trust Him, as He prompts and enables us to give "even when the bottom line says we can't." God's "inexpressible gift" of giving is counterintuitive to most of us. Our normal mindset, heavily influenced by the world's materialistic bent, is to horde as much wealth as possible for ourselves. This is true even in the church, where more and more believers are giving themselves over to the materialism that our culture says we are entitled to pursue and enjoy. It pains my heart when I see believers who will spend many hundreds of thousands of dollars for a 4,000 square foot house, and tens of thousands of dollars on a new luxury car or SUV, but can't seem to find a hundred bucks to support a short term mission trip. Those dear brothers and sisters are caught in a snare of the enemy. Randy Alcorn's small but powerful book tells them how to escape -- by giving away worldly wealth to store up eternal riches. Scripture teaches, and I have found by my own experience, that the more we have, the more we want, and the more we have to worry about. When we implement the Treasure Principle in our own lives, God delivers us from the bondage of materialism and prepares a far richer, eternal inheritance that is out of all proportion to the pittance even the most generous of us are able to give in this life. We have experienced just a taste of this for ourselves, and look forward to the day when we can "excel in this grace also." Many thanks to Randy Alcorn for sharing his insights and experiences.

This book is AMAZING!

This is one of the best books I have read. Intended for a Christian audience, "The Treasure Principle" is so simple, yet it has made such an impact on my life. The whole focus of the book is on how believers can use the money God has entrusted to them here on earth to make an eternal impact. In a time when people seek bigger homes, nicer cars and perfect bodies, this book makes Christians question how they use their money. It's a short book and an easy read. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I've purchased about 10 copies to pass along to others.

Tremendous Treasure

This book is fantastic. It is concise, motivational, and profound. I read it the first time and thought it was great, and then went back and took notes for a second reading and thought it was even better. This would be a great book to study with a small group or just discussing as a book club with friends. Alcorn does a great job of using illustrations and stories to motivate believers to think "eternally" about every giving, saving and spending decision. This is the heart of true stewardship. The main principles of the book are important to memorize and carry them on our hearts:Principle #1- God owns everything. I am His money manager.Principle #2- My heart always goes where I put God's money.Principle #3- Heaven, not Earth, is my home.Principle #4- I should live for the line (eternity), not the dot(short life on earth).Principle #5- Giving is the only antidote for materialism.Principle #6- God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.I highly recommend this great book. The only drawback in my opinion is his focus on tithing and using Malachi 3:8-10 as a verse to support his belief that tithing still applies. He makes compelling arguments for teaching tithing as a starting point (Christians give on average 2-3 percent of their income), but I believe the "Church" abuses this doctrine in most cases. The bigger message is stewardship. If believers understand that... the tithe is totally inapplicable. I agree with his heart on this issue, but disagree with his belief that the tithe should be taught. But that is a minor deal in the overall scheme of things. The book is a treasure that I will pass out to friends, family and re-read many times until these principles are lived out in my own life.Ashley Hodge, CFPSouthlake, TX

An excellent, God-centered book on money and true treasure

The Treasure Principle is concise and convicting. Alcorn shows that Jesus Christ, not money, is the greatest Treasure in the universe, and points the way toward a Biblical perspective on money and possessions. John Piper describes the book--and its benefits--better than I can:"Books don't change people; sentences do. That's all we remember. And there are so many sentences in this book super-charged with stunning divine truth that readers who aren't changed would have to be sleep-reading. Mark Twain said the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug. Well, lightning was striking over and over as I read. Best of all Jesus gets his due. He is the greatest Treasure. Randy Alcorn (again!) gets the greatest things right. And lives that way too." -- John Piper, Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis